Improvement in lightning-rods



C. H. SMITH. LIGHTNING-RODS.

,N o 183,425 Patented Oct. 17, 1876.

WITNESSES v ATTORNEY N, PETERS. FHDTO L|THDRAPHER WASHINGTON, D C,

U NITED STATES PATENT LOJFFICE.

CHARLES H.v SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,425, dated October17, 1876; application filed March 17, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SMITH, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and valuable Improvement inLightning-Rods; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of myinvention with section of couplings. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof,enlarged. Figs. 3 and 4 represent details of the parts.

This invention has relation to lightningrods; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of the parts of the rod, whichconsists of a central flattened iron bar or strip and an exterior coppersheathing, closely following in contact the surface of said bar or stripfrom the edges thereof to the center on each side, to form two of theribs of the rod, and beaded upon itself, or doubled longitudinally oneach side of said bar or strip, to form the other two ribs. It alsoconsists in the hollow screw coupling-sections, perforated transverselyfor the reception of the fastening-pin, which passes through aperforation-in theend of the central bar or strip, all as hereinafterfully shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a designates the central ironbar or strip, which may be flattened or oval in sectional form. brepresents the exterior copper sheathing, which is wrapped upon thesame. The method of wrapping is preferably to commence near one edge ofthe bar with one edge of the strip of copper sheathing, carrying thesame to the center of one side of said bar, and there forming alongitudinal corrugation or doubling of the sheathing, as shown at c.The copper is continued around the other edge of the bar to the centerof the other side, where a similar doubling or corrugated rib, c, isformed, the other edge of the copper strip being carried around thefirst edge of the It is designed that the copper sheathing v shall besufficiently heavy to give rigidity to these corrugated ribs, and themanufacturer will be required to use copper of sufficient thickness tosecure conducting capacity in the rod as well as durability.

The ribs may be formed by drawing through Suitable dies, and the rod maybe twisted at the same time, which will strengthen the corrugations.

c 0 represent the coupling-sections, which are respectively providedwith male and female screw-threads, each having a hollow cylinder orflange, h, for the reception of the end of the rod-section, which issecured therein by a pin, it, passing through holes n in the oppositesides of the flange, and through a perforation, o, in the iron centralbar of the rod. In this manner is formed a strong and firm joint, whichmay be readily manipulated. The pins k are properly of copper, as wellas the coupling-sections.

The interior of each coupling-cylinder is usually beveled at the bottom,so that the ends of the rod-sections can be wedged therein, to effect aclose contact of the copper parts.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. The combination, with the sheet-metal lightning-rod sections,each having the perforated central diametric bar a, of the pins 17 andthe hollow cylinder coupling-sections e 0, provided at their adjacentends with screwconnections, and at their outer ends with cylindricalrecesses, to receive the ends of the rod-sections and keep the same inposition, substantially as specified.

2. A lightning-rod consisting of a central flattened or oval bar and anexterior copper In testimony that I claim the above I have sheathing,closely following in contact the hereuntosubscribed my name in thepresence surface of the edges of said bar or strip, to of two witnesses,

form two of the ribs of the rod, and headed M CHARLES H. SMITH. ordoubled upon itself longitudinally on each Witnesses: side of said baror strip to form the other two SILAS W. MOODY,

ribs, substantially as specified. WILLIAM G. LORIMER.

